Ultimate Mod: R-Pod 'Toyhauler'?

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   I like it. Why not? Just remove the torsion axle and fenders and cut the tongue off. Leave the rpod frame rails or the thing will collapse like the house of cards it is 😜. 

Maybe build your own rather than buy a utility trailer, then you could position its crossmembers to mate up with the rpod frame where they wouldn’t interfere with the existing plumbing? The waste lines would need to be lowered to clear the new trailer frame, but that shouldn’t be too hard, the way FR installs them they want to fall down anyway....

The other thing you could do is double the existing frame rails by adding new 4x2 tubes under the existing ones. If you remove the riser kit at the same time the rpod would only gain about 1/2 inch in height. That would quadruple the strength of the frame (section modulus goes up with the square of the height of the tube).  Cut off, double, and extend the tongue so you could roll your bikes on in front of the trailer box. Most of the additional weight will be on the tongue but you should put a heavier axle on at the same time anyway. Might be easier and cheaper, don’t know. 

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offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Topic: Ultimate Mod: R-Pod 'Toyhauler'? Posted: 16 Mar 2021 at 7:34am
	I like it. Why not? Just remove the torsion axle and fenders and cut the tongue off. Leave the rpod frame rails or the thing will collapse like the house of cards it is 😜. Maybe build your own rather than buy a utility trailer, then you could position its crossmembers to mate up with the rpod frame where they wouldn’t interfere with the existing plumbing? The waste lines would need to be lowered to clear the new trailer frame, but that shouldn’t be too hard, the way FR installs them they want to fall down anyway.... The other thing you could do is double the existing frame rails by adding new 4x2 tubes under the existing ones. If you remove the riser kit at the same time the rpod would only gain about 1/2 inch in height. That would quadruple the strength of the frame (section modulus goes up with the square of the height of the tube). Cut off, double, and extend the tongue so you could roll your bikes on in front of the trailer box. Most of the additional weight will be on the tongue but you should put a heavier axle on at the same time anyway. Might be easier and cheaper, don’t know.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

mcarter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419	Posted: 15 Mar 2021 at 7:07pm
	Ideas like this have been around for years and for great reasons. I remember the school bus we converted in the 60s to go camping, what a great project. How about camping trailers on pontoons making houseboats. A camping trailer on a flatbed with a cargo area for toys is a great idea, maybe some plumbing mods and you're good to go.
	Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

jato Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3324	Posted: 15 Mar 2021 at 2:32pm
	Reminds me of the 'quad-pods' that FR built back in 2012-2013. Don't know if they have been built since then but they are pretty neat looking. With that you had room to add a 4-wheeler or similar to the front cage area in front of the pod. Remember those?
	God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

podwerkz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Mar 2019 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 966	Posted: 15 Mar 2021 at 11:39am
	Lets think outside the 'box'...and have some fun. I have been kinda wanting to be able to haul my motorcycle or my ebike (or e-trike) and e-bike trailers along with my r-pod and the pickup tow vehicle has a topper, and it aint coming off. I have been perusing the websites, considering maybe a pop-up or an a-frame with the cargo deck up front...but as we all know, pop-ups can be a pain and any of these things can cost over 20 grand right now when bought new. Some of us know the possible weak link in the smaller r-pods is the torsion axle, its propensity to 'give' a little too much when loaded at or near it's factory rating. I have an idea I'm working on...only in the 'what if' stage right now.... Suppose I buy a 20 (or maybe 22) foot double axle utility trailer, remove the running gear from the r-pod, including the tongue, and drop it all on the flat utility trailer. Bolt it all down. Now I have a much heavier trailer of course, but with double axles and a way to load up a two wheeler and extra cargo either ahead of or behind the r-pod 'body'. Obviously there are things to consider. Front-rear balance, and tongue weight, for one. Access to holding tanks and underbelly wiring and tubing will be limited, so some of that will have to be modified and/or re-routed. The VIN number...I guess that will now be the utility trailer VIN number...hmmm... I would have to rework the fold-out steps, obviously. The entire thing will be wider and longer so parking and maneuvering and camping will be forever changed to one degree or another. The 171 has no slides so this is not a concern. And my pickup tow vehicle will easily handle double the weight of an r-pod, so this is also not a problem. But I really like the r-pod and dont want to trade or sell it and start all over with a new or used camper of some other design...I chose the 171 r-pod cuz I like it. I've seen odd pairings of truck campers installed on flat trailers and travel trailers installed behind straight truck cabs.....so its nothing new really. Just in the 'what-if' stage at this time....but you never know!
	r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!